Is my Old Oil Stock worth Anything?

Welcome to to this updated collection of articles about obscure oil and natural gas company histories since the 1860s. Importantly, the historical society’s original research and accompanying forum maintenance need your financial support.

Note to visitors to this energy education website: The American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS) is not affiliated with any petroleum company, advocacy groups, or industry lobbying organizations; it depends on individual financial support.

AOGHS serves as a resource for petroleum history for researchers, teachers, students, historians and the public.

A petroleum stock certificate’s vignette often is an important part of its value for scripophily – the buying and selling of certificates as collectibles after they have no redeemable value as a security.

Although often controversial, the history of U.S. petroleum exploration, production, and transportation should be preserved. From kerosene for lamps, gasoline for cars, and plastic polymers for everyday products, the industry’s social, economic and technological history offers a context for understanding the modern energy needs.

Maintaining this educational website depends on volunteers — and your financial support. Further, even contributions help the society expand its energy education mission and promote the good work of community oil and natural gas museums.

Help us share the many petroleum history links and articles featured on this website.

Can you tell me anything about this old petroleum company (for free)?I found its stock certificate in an attic. Am I rich? Probably not. As shown in the companies below, since the 1850s the U.S. petroleum industry’s boom and bust cycles have left many casualties. For an example of one that actually made it to courts, see Not a Millionaire from Old Oil Stock.

America’s first oil company – the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company of New York – organized it 1855.

Unfortunately, this small historical society cannot grant requests for free research regarding individual company histories and the potential value of stock certificates.

As you may have discovered, financial research is difficult and time consuming. If you are fortunate, a visitor to this website or a society volunteer may have posted helpful information. If it is not here, and to share further research experiences, you are invited to submit your query in the current Stock Certificate Q&A Forum.

Below is research submitted by a leading volunteer of the American Oil & Gas Historical Society. The company histories presented often tell fascinating stories – and are exclusive of the Stock Certificate Q&A forum posts also on this website. Check back here for more of these rare histories.